Permit required to buy a firearm in WA

On Tuesday, May 20th, Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1163, instituting a "permit to purchase" scheme for the purchase and transfer of firearms. The permitting system will take effect on May 1st, 2027, if fully funded by June 30, 2025.

House Bill 1163 establishes a permit to purchase scheme requiring government permission to purchase or transfer a firearm, adds a live-fire training component, and establishes an illegal government registry of firearm owners and their personal information. 

Permits will need to be renewed every 5 years. This law will do nothing to address Washington’s crime problem, but it will make firearm ownership nearly unobtainable, both practically and financially. 

HB 1163 passed with a strict party-line vote. All Democrats voted for HB 1163, no Republican voted for HB 1163.